Mounting of an scp camshaft on an engine

Abstract

A method disclosed for mounting a camshaft and a phaser on an engine, the camshaft being an SCP camshaft formed of concentric inner and outer rotary members each fast in rotation with a respective one of two groups of cams and the phaser enabling the phase of at least one of the rotary members of the camshaft to be varied dynamically relative to the phase of the engine crankshaft and the other rotary member. The method comprises first securing the phaser 30 to one end of the camshaft 10 , then mounting the camshaft and phaser as a sub-assembly to the engine, and subsequently securing to the engine an abutment 40 for limiting the axial displacement of the camshaft relative to the engine.

1 . A method of mounting a camshaft and a phaser on an engine, the camshaft being an SCP camshaft formed of concentric inner and outer rotary members each fast in rotation with a respective one of two groups of cams and the phaser enabling the phase of at least one of the rotary members of the camshaft to be varied dynamically relative to the phase of the engine crankshaft and the other rotary member, which method comprises securing the phaser to one end of the camshaft, mounting the camshaft and phaser as a sub-assembly to the engine by sliding the camshaft axially from the front end of the engine into bearing blocks in the engine, and subsequently securing to the engine an abutment for limiting the axial displacement of the camshaft relative to the engine. 
   
   
       2 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the abutment is formed as a thrust plate integrated as part of the camshaft and phaser sub-assembly. 
   
   
       3 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the abutment comprises a thrust plate located on the opposite end of the camshaft from the phaser. 
   
   
       4 . A method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the abutment is constituted by an engine front cover contacting the front face of the phaser. 
   
   
       5 . (canceled) 
   
   
       6 . An engine having a crankshaft, a camshaft formed of concentric inner and outer rotary members each fast in rotation with a respective one of two groups of cams, bearing Journals on the camshaft having a larger radius than the largest cam lobe radius to enable the camshaft to slide axially from the front end of the engine into bearing blocks in the engine, a phaser mounted on the camshaft to enable the phase of at least one of the rotary members to be varied dynamically relative to the phase of the crankshaft and the other rotary member, and a thrust control member capable of being secured to the engine after the camshaft and phaser have been fitted as a sub-assembly to the cylinder block or cylinder head of the engine. 
   
   
       7 . An engine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a thrust plate serves to control the axial position of the camshaft relative to the engine and is Located on the opposite end of the camshaft from the phaser. 
   
   
       8 . An engine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the axial position of the camshaft is defined by the rear of a cylinder block or cylinder head and a surface of a cover fitted to the rear of the engine. 
   
   
       9 . An engine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the axial position of the camshaft is determined in use by the phaser coming into contact with a front face of a cylinder block or a cylinder head and a surface of a cover fitted to the front of the engine and overlying the phaser. 
   
   
       10 . An engine as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the front cover is fitted with an adjustable thrust member to allow the axial clearance of the camshaft to be set upon assembly of the engine. 
   
   
       11 . An engine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the adjustable plate serves additionally to transmit oil to the phaser. 
   
   
       12 . An engine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the axial clearance within the camshaft assembly and the phaser is controlled by a single shim. 
   
   
       13 . An engine as claimed in claims  claim 12 , wherein the axial clearance adjusting shim acts as the thrust plate.